Northwestern Medicine performs second awake kidney transplant surgery

Dr. Rohan shows Harry his new kidney

His daughter, Trewaunda Stackhouse, 45, of Waukegan, Illinois, stepped up to donate one of her kidneys. Harry Stackhouse was happy to be on dialysis, and his daughter had to convince him to get a kidney transplant.

“I didn't want a transplant because I didn't want to interfere in my children's lives,” Harry Stackhouse explained. “I told them, 'Live your life, live your life.' Your dad can handle this,” Trewounda insisted, however. I'm so grateful and can't say “thank you” enough. I have the utmost admiration for her and the medical team at Northwestern Medical School. ”

“I wanted my dad to get a kidney transplant and get back to the life he had before kidney failure and get back to work,” Trewaunda Stackhouse said. “When he was diagnosed with kidney failure, I knew from the beginning that he should get a kidney transplant. I hated seeing the side effects of his dialysis three times a week. I wanted him to be tireless and get back to doing what he enjoyed.”

Not only did Harry Stackhouse have to convince him to get a kidney transplant, but after Dr. Nadig suggested the idea, he also persuaded Harry Stackhouse to stay awake during the transplant procedure.

“Dr. Nadig said it would be a much better surgery for me considering my age and possible side effects from general anesthesia. I was skeptical at first, but Trewaunda assured me it would be fine. She said, “Dad, this is the same type of anesthesia that is used when women have a C-section. You can do it,'' Harry Stackhouse said. He also remembers seeing his daughter's kidney during surgery before it was transplanted. “Dr. Nadig showed it to me and the first thing I said was, 'That kidney is big!'”